Details
Our greatest hits compiled into one bike—just hit play.
If ever a bike resembled your most cherished mix tape compilation, the Hightower is it. Featuring our lower-link mounted shock design, updated, adjustable geometry, this “Engineering Best Of...” assembles some of our biggest design pleasers into one belter of a road-trip companion.
The Hightower has been a does-it-all-well trail bike since its inception. More maneuverable than its longer-travel sibling, the Megatower, and more at home in the steep-and-chunky than its snappy cousin Tallboy, Hightower excels when the route covers ‘all points in between,’ and descents come courtesy of some big-ass climbs. The VPP suspension’s lower-link-mounted shock creates a nearly linear leverage curve, meaning it mops up bumps of all sizes and maintains the kind of progressivity normally reserved for our V10 DH bike!
140mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm front end gives Hightower just a bit more front and rear travel over the first generation model. Combined with a slacker 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower still sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more “Get me out of here!” capability when the porridge gets too hot!
Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames and the Hightower flies the flag yet higher. The advanced composite chassis tracks well across all trail surfaces, holds a line, and is reactive to rider directions while isolating pedal-influenced inputs.
The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience—the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position the shock rate is more progressive, to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Whatever mood you’re in, the tone of the Hightower can be adapted to meet your individual taste.
And speaking of taste, there’s a room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There’s refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there’s a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-canceling chainstay protector keeping things quiet.
The lifetime frame warranty, lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy, and lifetime guarantee on the optional Reserve carbon wheels assures you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.
This Hightower Carbon S build pegs the fun meter at 11. You get fantastic front-end control through the stiff and supple RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork, complemented by a Super Deluxe Select+ shock to keep you feeling planted through the roughest rock gardens. SRAM's GX Eagle drivetrain fires off shifts with minimal effort, while SRAM Code R brakes and wide Race Face AR Offset 30 rims — or Santa Cruz's own Reserve 30 Carbon for enhanced performance — wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHR2 tires give you maximum control whether you're railing through the turns or bombing a rowdy descent. A Race Face Ride stem, Aeffect R bar, and RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post finish the build.
A dropper seatpost allows you to quickly lower and raise your seat to give you an ideal riding position. Dropping your seat creates a lower center of gravity for better control and maneuverability on steep descents, while raising it puts you at normal riding height for efficient pedaling.
Construction can include either hydraulic- or cable-actuated systems and the post’s travel can either be infinitely adjustable or stopped at set intervals, depending on the model.
Dropper seatposts come in standard lengths and diameters and vary by the amount of travel.
Pedals sold separately
Specs
Frame | Hightower Carbon C |
---|---|
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select+ 150mm 29" |
Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
Rear Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ |
Axles |
Front: 110 x 15mm Rear: 148 x 12mm |
Rims/Wheels |
Race Face AR Offset 30 29" rims Or Santa Cruz Reserve 30 Carbon rims |
Hubs | DT 370 32H (28H w/Reserve upgrade) |
Spokes | DT Competition |
Tires | Maxxis Minion DHR2 29 x 2.40 3C EXO TR |
Crankset | SRAM Stylo 7k 148 DUB - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL) |
Chainrings | 30T |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Chain | SRAM NX Eagle |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle |
Cassette/Rear Cogs | SRAM XG1275 Eagle 10-50T |
Shifters | SRAM GX Eagle |
Handlebars | Race Face Aeffect R 35x780mm |
Tape/Grips | Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips |
Stem | Race Face Ride 50mm |
Brakes | SRAM Code R, Avid Centerline rotors 180mm |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Race Saddle |
Seat Post | RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6mm |
Accessories & Extras | Stans Sealant 2oz |
* Subject to change without notice.